Harrison Avenue project finds funding

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Long-discussed plans to improve the Harrison Avenue area took a major step forward Tuesday when the city and property owners reached an agreement to help pay for the estimated $3.4 million project.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously approved the creation of an assessment district to help fund construction of the Harrison Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project after the district was approved by a majority of affected property owners.

The assessment district received 82.46 percent approval from the 13 property owners affected by the project, according to City Clerk Susan Alessi. Approval is weighted by the proportional financial obligation of a property in the assessment district.

About $970,000 of the construction funding needed for the project will come from the district, while the city expects to contribute $1.5 million. The California Tahoe Conservancy is slated to contribute $500,000 and federal air quality improvement funding will provide an additional $710,000, according to a city staff report.

The project includes sidewalks along Harrison Avenue and several nearby streets, a bike path along Riverside Avenue connecting to surrounding paths, ADA improvements, stormwater improvements, additional parking and new pavement.

Several one-way streets are also included in the area under the project. The one-way streets are not proposed to extend into the surrounding neighborhood.

The City Council still needs to approve the final design of the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2013.

The environmental document for the project can be found on the city's website. Public comments on the document are being taken until Nov. 19.